In Shakespeare’s time there were around 20,000 words in our language from which he could choose to write his plays. John F. Kennedy could choose from about 114,000 words when he was writing his speeches. Today there are approximately 600,000 English words, although we use less than 1000 in the course of normal conversation.
With modern text talk I often wonder where the language is headed. It would be something to go into suspended animation for 100 years and see what English is like in 2110. While I don’t mind colloquialisms, I believe that when we speak or write, our language should be clear and understandable. Yet even I find that sometimes my own writes are neither entirely clear nor concise.
If I say it is not efficacious to indoctrinate a superannuated canine with innovative measures what I meant was you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. If I say pulchritude possesses profundity of a merely cutaneous nature, all I should have said was beauty is only skin deep.
There is an old saying that means visible vapors that issue from carbonaceous materials are a harbinger of imminent conflagration. In other words, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. There must be a happy medium somewhere between text talk and bureaucratise.
Maybe we should revert to the hip talk of the 1950’s and 60’s. That would be a trip. Speaking about trips, nah we won't go there as it's for another day.
I have to look deeper in to my webster dictionary ... you sounds different today Jack.
ReplyDeleteYet there's truth in the saying that "beauty is only skin deep" what is more important is the character that is behind it.
"When there's smoke there is fire" for sure and i loved that saying too.
... the hip talk of the 50's and the 60's i yet to listen carefuly. But it will be nice if you touch a bit of those in your next writes, and there's another thing that is going on ... the linggo' of 'gay world' and i often hear it in beauty parlors and in 'news world. :) ... news papers and mags
I just have had a busy day all in all and am reading and writing. I get a hoot out of this techno age yet I am kinda old fashioned where will english go right now there are words that are morphing into text type. One example is great. The other day, I had my cell on and I had a call from this old friend named great and he text typed it as grr8t....where is english going?
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe that English is being ruined by the texting fad. My husband is a teacher and he's pretty much disgusted with the lack of written knowledge exhibited by his students. They refuse to learn the correct way and it scares me to think what English will be like 100 years from now. Maybe it'll morph into some weird language straight out of Ray Bradbury's 'A Sound Of Thunder'.
ReplyDeleteSue I am not one for much texting, I would much rather have a good conversation and how does on write everything by way of these little keys on a cell phone? I don't know where it shall go. English is something that is morphing and I really am not all that into it, coupled with the fact that I only use my cell for merely family and a few friends. Otherwise it can wait until I get home. Computers are a culture of communication yet it's went from having a computer that you go to sit at to one where you have a laptop, cell and it's sort of immerging into our culture. As now it's computer on the go.
ReplyDeleteI have never read Ray Bradbury however I shall look it up. But here too I am coming to enjoy something that are not online but there is nothing like the feel of a book or a newspaper.
I am not anti computer by any means but how I have the need for glasses more than just two years ago. Where there was a time I could get buy with everything with the exception of driving - as I am short sighted.
Salaam brother!
ReplyDeleteInteresting subject! Thanks for writing about.
Since literary and scientific languages are different than daily spoken and written language, as you said normal talks must be understandable.
And I think a big part of increasing words in all languages are scientific and technological ones.
I'm interested in old English. Difficult but good.
Hi Ali, there are various different forms of english there is the traditional english and then there are a variety of other english forms.
ReplyDeleteI find that they all are interesting there are time I will write in the original english style as that is what is used within Canada, but then
again most often I will just type away and use the American style of english. So it's a mix.
To be able to communicate to the largest majority of people I find speaking or writing to the level I'm dealing with works best. When I worked, to call my staff together and speak above them, Ive now lost their interest. Communication is the key, not how properly youve written or orally said something.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, that's the same for Farsi,our main and national language. For instance the Farsi of Iran is a little different than the Farsi of Tajikistan and all are good.
ReplyDeleteI'm also interested in old English and of course modern English.
Yep, I agree, I can only understand simple English, not the bureaucratic nor the text talk although it is a little easier for my brain to decipher. I do like the word one word, just cuz it's short and I use it a lot.
ReplyDeletehaha. good one! i'm always trying to understand my daughter's language. many times she has to translate for me. :)
ReplyDeleteI guess it's all within the lingo :)
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